Thursday, October 11, 2007

How are the aires? Buenos.

Dan: Here’s a quick summary of the trip. We spent a long weekend in Buenos Aires, trying to do as many touristy things as we could. The city itself is markedly different from Mendoza in size and appearance. Buenos Aires is gigantic, and is at once older and more modern than Mendoza. Earthquakes got rid of any traces of colonial times in Mendoza; not the case in BsAs. We walked or took the subways around town to look at monuments and old buildings. We went to the exclusive section of the city with the highest real estate value; the famous Recoleta cemetery, where the rich and famous Argentine Christian families pay rent for all eternity. I think the highlight of the trip was El Bar de Roberto, a crowded little place with hundreds of dusty bottles behind the bar. It was full of people on Friday night. There was a tiny stage, big enough for two people to play guitar and sing tango music. Folks took turns singing on stage or just singing along in the crowd. It was a very nice environment to drink a bottle of wine and listen to some amazing voices sing some sad sad songs. We also went to a place called La Catedral afterward that had recorded music and space for dancing. We opted to keep going with the wine and just watch. We met another wacky gringo from New York named Tom who joined us for tourism and gustatory adventures. We made it to 4 or 5 museums. On Saturday night there was an event called “Noche en los Museos”, in which 102 museums were open and free from 7 PM to 2 AM. Shopping could not be avoided. There were tons of streets vendors and traditional shops. On Sunday in San Telmo, the neighborhood our hostel was in, they closed off Defensa street all day for the outdoor antique and craft market. All in all we had a really nice time in BA. Other than a day of rain and the cats in heat on the roof of the hostel, I can't think of many complaints. Definitely a great place to visit. Ok, here’s a boatload of pics. Stay tuned for the Buenos Aires trip video.


The pampas, as seen from a bus window.









Japanese garden in Palermo section.












Old buildings and new buildings.












We also stopped by Washington D.C.












Plaza Dorrego, San Telmo neighborhood Sunday market. Tom and Lou shop until I almost drop.








Casa Rosada - The Pink House. I guess they painted it that way to try to create peace between the party whose color was red and the party whose color was white.








The super touristy area of La Boca.









The Cabildo at Plaza de Mayo on a rainy evening.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

the sky in that last picture is a GREAT color!!

Lindsay said...

I have to admit that even though I claim to be an expert in Argentina, I have never been in Plaza Dorrego. Of course I know Dorrego St. and the Chacarita neighbourhood where it is located, but I had no idea you could shop in that square.
The apartment in buenos aires I got when I was there was in Palermo, so most of my purchases were done in the Plaza Serrano or Armenia Square. Next time I go I will check it out!
Lindsay